1995-026-Adopting The Central Business District Streetscape And Improvement GuidelinesRESOLUTION 1995 -26
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
ADOPTING THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT STREETSCAPE
AND IMPROVEMENT GUIDELINES
RESOLVED: The Town Council hereby adopts the Central Business District
Streetscape and Improvement Guidelines, (Exhibit A).
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council held on the
21st day of February, 1995, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Randy Attaway, Joanne Benjamin, Steven Blanton, Linda Lubeck and Mayor
Patrick O'Laughlin
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None'
jySIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
'\NASH DPM2195.16A
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
STREETSCAPE AND IMPROVEMENT GUIDELINES
L INTRODUCTION
In May 1990 the Town Council accepted a report from the Commercial Plan Committee that
included a recommendation to develop guidelines and standards for the orderly placement of street
furniture and appurtenances on downtown sidewalks. These guidelines will provide the standard
for the placement and location of such things as benches, trash receptacles, newspaper racks, and
anything that may be placed on the public sidewalks, streets, alleys and public right -of -way in the
Central Business District.
IL SCOPE
The standards in this document apply to the public rights -of -way within the boundary of the C -2
zone identified on the Town of Los Gatos Zoning Map as C -2 (Central Business District) (see Figure
1)
III. PURPOSE
Street furniture and appurtenances placed on streets, sidewalks, alleys and other rights -of -way may
unreasonably interfere or obstruct pedestrian, vehicular or bicycle use of the public travel lanes. The
primary purpose of streets and sidewalks is to efficiently, safely and conveniently move people
between destinations. Additionally, the Town is concerned with providing the highest level of
accessibility for elderly people and satisfying the requirements of the American Disabilities Act
(ADA).
There is an urgent need to provide policy for keeping streets and sidewalks safe for pedestrian travel.
During the last five years the Town has been involved in several lawsuits due to serious injury
caused by insecure tree wells and street furniture that were not designed with safety in mind or were
placed on the sidewalk inappropriately. An ankle injury may cost the Town as much as $200,000
in costs and awards. More serious injuries have occurred in the downtown including head injuries
caused by tripping over obstacles in the public right-of-way. These injuries are often permanent and
debilitating.
These standards are also intended to provide for clear sight distance, a clear view of traffic signs
and the clean and orderly appearance of the downtown.
IV. DEFINITIONS
(1) Public right - of -sway. Those areas dedicated for the public use for public purposes including
but not limited to streets, parkways, alleys and sidewalks.
(2) Street.furnitirre. Includes such things, but is not limited to benches, trash and recycling
receptacles, planters, newspaper racks, bicycle racks, electroliers, directional signs and
similar appurtenances.
V. GENERAL
No person shall place or install any street furniture into or over the public right -of -way. No person
shall install or place any appurtenance into or over the public right of way if such appurtenance is
determined to interfere with or impede the flow of pedestrian or vehicular circulation, endanger the
safety of persons or property, obstruct ingress or egress from any business or residence, interfere
with disabled access or obstruct the use of postal service collection boxes, fire hydrants, utility meter
boxes, traffic signals, crosswalks or other appurtenances permitted in the right -of -way.
Any street furniture excluding newsracks purchased by a private individual, corporation or
organization to be placed in the public right -of -way, becomes a donation to the Town and therefore,
property of the Town of Los Gatos. The Town will endeavor to locate the donated item in the
location requested by the donor. If that location does not meet all of the requirements of these
guidelines, the Town reserves the right to locate the item elsewhere in the C -2 Zone. Once donated
the Town has absolute control over the donated item, and may remove, relocate or dispose of the
item whenever it is in the public interest to do so. Each donation shall include a payment to cover
installation and maintenance costs. A plaque no larger than 36 square inches may be attached to
street furniture in recognition of a donation, upon approval of the Town.
(1) Any appurtenance that in whole or in part is placed upon, or over any sidewalk shall:
(a) Only be placed near a curb or adjacent to the wall of a building;
(b) Not impede the growth of a Town approved tree, nor impede the use of another
permitted appurtenance or be attached to a street tree or tree grate, or placed upon a
tree grate;
(c) Not exceed eight (8) feet in length;
(d) Provide a four (4) foot clearance zone between each eight (8) foot appurtenance or
group of appurtenances to allow curb face access_
(2) No appurtenance shall be placed or installed:
(a) Within ten (10) feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk as measured from the
curb return (pedestal newsracks with a minimum height of fifteen inches from paved
surface to bottom of newsrack may be closer to curb return - but no closer than five
feet - at the discretion of the Planning Director);
(b) Within three (3) feet of any fire hydrant, fire call box, police call box, or other
emergency facility;
(c) Within three (3) feet of any bench fixed parallel to curb, within four (4) feet of any
bench fixed perpendicular to curb,
(d) Within five (5) feet of any driveway,
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(e) Within five (5) feet of any bus stop zone;
(f) At any space where the clear space for the passage of pedestrians is reduced to less
than six (6) feet, except that in areas where physical barriers provide for less than six
feet, a clear space for passage of not less than four (4) feet may be permitted for a
distance of not more than ten (10) feet with the approval of the Planning Director;
(g) In a way that impedes or interferes with the reasonable use of any commercial
window display;
(h) Within ten (10) feet of the curb return of any wheelchair curb ramp not in marked
crosswalk; and
(i) Within eighteen (18) inches from back of curb;
Q) Within 12 inches of any accessible utility or meter flush mounted in sidewalk.
(3) Non - compliance with these standards is a violation of Town Code Section 23.10.085(b)(1).
VI. PUBLIC SIGNS (Refer to Figure No. 33 -3(a) of the California Accessibility Reference
Manual, May 1994)
(1) The Town shall develop a consistent public sign program for non - regulatory signs that allow
the casual user to quickly orient themselves to the area. Typical sign groups are directional,
traffic, street signs and public parking lot signs.
(2) Sign locations shall be chosen carefully and should be consolidated when possible to reduce
visual clutter.
(3) The selected sign program of the Town shall be consistent throughout the Central Business
District and signs shall consist of the same material, size, color and type.
(4) Town signs shall use symbols instead of text as much as possible, particularly for traffic
signs.
VII. LIGHTING
The Town shall:
(1) Develop electrolier and street lighting standards for the downtown.
(2) Upgrade lighting intensity near crosswalks and other areas that may be potentially
hazardous.
VIII. STREET FURNITURE
Street furniture consists of but is not limited to benches, bicycle racks, trash and recycling
receptacles, planters and newspaper racks.
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Benches (Refer to ADA Accessibility Guidelines, July 1991, Section 4,33 Assembly Areas Figure
No. 45 "Minimum Clearances for Seating and Tables ")
(1) Only the following bench models may be permitted in the public right -of -way in the Central
Business District. All such benches shall be installed, owned and maintained by the Town
of Los Gatos. Any private individual, group or organization wanting to place an approved
bench into the public right -of -way shall purchase the bench, dedicate it to the Town of Los
Gatos and pay a maintenance fee to cover installation and maintenance costs.
Manufacturer:
Smith & Hawkin
Style:
Giverny
Models:
95285 (4 foot)
Color:
#5280 (5 foot)
Color:
#5547 (6 foot)
Color:
Natural Teakwood
Manufacturer:
Fair Weather
Style:
Plaza
Models:
#PL -5 (4 -6 feet)
Color:
4PL -1.5 (4 -6 feet)
Color:
Mineral Bronze
Belvedere
#5806 (5 foot)
95807 (6 foot)
#5808 (8 foot)
(2) Replace the public planter box /seating areas along N. Santa Cruz Avenue to improve their
appearance and durability and to make sheet parking easier.
Trash and Recycling Receptacles
(1) Trash and Recycling Receptacles shall be consistent in design and materials. The standard
trash receptacle in the Central Business District shall be as follows:
Manufacturer
Fair Weather
Style:
Plaza
Model:
#TR -3 w /dome top
Color:
Mineral Bronze
(2) Trash and recycling receptacles shall be spaced at appropriate intervals to provide
convenient disposal locations for the public and reduce sidewalk litter.
Bicycle Racks
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(1) The Town shall remove existing publically owned bicycle racks and encourage donations
to replace existing bicycle racks throughout the Central Business District with a standard
model that can be conveniently located, and easy and safe to use.
(2) Bicycle racks shall not interfere with pedestrian flow and shall be safe and easy to use.
Newspaper Racks
Newspaper racks provide an important public information source and are entitled to be
displayed in the public right -of -way subject to Section 23.70.010 of the Town Code. Any
person installing a newsrack is obligated to meet all ADA requirements, especially those
related to height and ease of access.
Landscaping
(1) A plan shall be developed to replace the planter boxes along N. Santa Cruz Avenue
providing less obstruction to vehicles.
(2) Trees and landscaping shall be an integral element of the downtown.
(3) Tree grates shall be designed to meet the requirements of the American's with Disabilities
Act Guidelines and shall be used at the base of street trees to provide tree protection and
facilitate pedestrian flow and accessibility.
(4) Parking lot areas shall be adequately landscaped to create a more aesthetically pleasing
buffer zone between sidewalks and parking areas as well as to create distinctive parking lot
entryways.
Utilities
(1) Continue the underground utility program.
(2) Underground utility boxes shall be placed in unobtrusive locations.
(3) Screen all above ground utility boxes.
VIII. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
(1) Create distinguishing entries into downtown and other areas such as public parking lots.
(2) Develop locations for pedestrian corridors that link parking areas to shopping areas.
IX. IMPLEMENTATION
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This downtown streetscape plan outlines the framework for orderly placement of street furniture and
landscaping in the public right -of -way. This is intended to be the first phase of a comprehensive
plan for the downtown. Phase II will be an expansion of this policy fiurther defining standards for
electroliers, public landscaping, and public signs. It is necessary that implementation be a combined
public and private venture involving those who have a stake in the success of the Central Business
District. This policy is to be used in tandem with the goals of the General Plan and the Downtown
Specific Plan. Town government can play an important role in maintaining a lively downtown, but
it is essential that the private property and business owners expand their role in ensuring the long
range success of downtown.
n: \dev \streetsc.2
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February 23, 1995